422 research outputs found
Well-localized edge states in two-dimensional topological insulators: ultrathin Bi films
We theoretically study the generic behavior of the penetration depth of the
edge states in two-dimensional quantum spin Hall systems. We found that the
momentum-space width of the edge-state dispersion scales with the inverse of
the penetration depth. As an example of well-localized edge states, we take the
Bi(111) ultrathin film. Its edge states are found to extend almost over the
whole Brillouin zone. Correspondingly, the bismuth (111) 1-bilayer system is
proposed to have well-localized edge states in contrast to the HgTe quantum
well.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Co atoms on BiSe revealing a coverage dependent spin reorientation transition
We investigate Co nanostructures on BiSe by means of scanning
tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy [STM/STS], X-ray absorption spectroscopy
[XAS], X-ray magnetic dichroism [XMCD] and calculations using the density
functional theory [DFT]. In the single adatom regime we find two different
adsorption sites by STM. Our calculations reveal these to be the fcc and hcp
hollow sites of the substrate. STS shows a pronounced peak for only one species
of the Co adatoms indicating different electronic properties of both types.
These are explained on the basis of our DFT calculations by different
hybridizations with the substrate. Using XMCD we find a coverage dependent spin
reorientation transition from easy-plane toward out-of-plane. We suggest
clustering to be the predominant cause for this observation.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure
Thermal collapse of spin-polarization in half-metallic ferromagnets
The temperature dependence of the magnetization and spin-polarization at the
Fermi level is investigated for half-metallic ferromagnets. We reveal a new
mechanism, where the hybridization of states forming the half-metallic gap
depends on thermal spin fluctuations and the polarization can drop abruptly at
temperatures much lower than the Curie point. We verify this for NiMnSb by
ab-initio calculations. The thermal properties are studied by mapping ab-initio
results to an extended Heisenberg model which includes longitudinal
fluctuations and is solved by a Monte Carlo method
Magnetic Phase Control in Monolayer Films by Substrate Tuning
We propose to tailor exchange interactions in magnetic monolayer films by
tuning the adjacent non-magnetic substrate. As an example, we demonstrate a
ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic phase transition for one monolayer Fe on a
Ta(x)W(1-x)(001) surface as a function of the Ta concentration. At the critical
Ta concentration, the nearest-neighbor exchange interaction is small and the
magnetic phase space is dramatically broadened. Complex magnetic order such as
spin-spirals, multiple-Q, or even disordered local moment states can occur,
offering the possibility to store information in terms of ferromagnetic dots in
an otherwise zero-magnetization state matrix.Comment: after minor changes, 5 pages, 5 figures, revtex
Surface-electronic structure of La(0001) and Lu(0001)
Most spectroscopic methods for studying the electronic structure of metal
surfaces have the disadvantage that either only occupied or only unoccupied
states can be probed, and the signal is cut at the Fermi edge. This leads to
significant uncertainties, when states are very close to the Fermi level. By
performing low-temperature scanning tunneling spectroscopy and ab initio
calculations, we study the surface-electronic structure of La(0001) and
Lu(0001), and demonstrate that in this way detailed information on the
surface-electronic structure very close to the Fermi energy can be derived with
high accuracy.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, 1 table submitted to PR
Tuning the Curie temperature of FeCo compounds by tetragonal distortion
Combining density-functional theory calculations with a classical Monte Carlo
method, we show that for B2-type FeCo compounds tetragonal distortion gives
rise to a strong reduction of the Curie temperature . The
monotonically decreases from 1575 K (for ) to 940 K
(for c/a=\sqrtwo). We find that the nearest neighbor Fe-Co exchange
interaction is sufficient to explain the behavior of the
. Combination of high magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy with
a moderate value suggests tetragonal FeCo grown on the Rh
substrate with to be a promising material for heat-assisted magnetic
recording applications.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
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